Thermostat



Sept. 5, 1933.

FIG. 1.

O. H. DICKE THERMOSTAT Filed July 50, 1930 FIG-.2.

INVENTOR Patented Sept. 5, 1933 PATENT OFFICE THERMOSTAT Oscar H. Dicke, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Pioneer Heat Regulator Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 30, 1930. Serial No. 471,875

8 Claims.

This invention relates to heat regulating sy tems, and more particularly to thermostats for such systems.

In applying automatic control of heat flow to modern residences, the thermostat or heat responsive device has in many cases resolved itself into an unsightly decoration, and in accordance with the present invention it is proposed to design and construct the thermostat, or rather camou- 0 flage it, so as to make it appear as another useful article, namely a clock shelf. This shelf thermostat is preferably of hollow construction with an opening therethrough connecting the top and bottom end, so that air will circulate therethrough and cause the thermal responsive device contained therein to assume a condition depending on room temperature. In accordance with the present invention this clock shelf may be used for supporting any suitable clock, and in some 2 instances this shelf thermostat may support a clock provided with suitable time operated contacts which may through suitable circuit connections cause the room temperature to be reduced during the sleeping hours of the night.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will in part appear from the accompanying drawing and will in part be more specifically pointed out hereinafter.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to the accompanying drawing, in Which:-

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the novel thermostat, having mounted thereon a mantel clock of the usual construction, except that it also includes time operated contacts;

Fig. 2, shows a plan view of the shelf type thermostat shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, shows an inverted plan view of the thermostat supporting plate shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing; and

Fig. 4 shows a wiring diagram for controlling a suitable regulator by the thermostat and clock illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the housing for the shelf type thermostat is of rectangular tubular construction, which is preferably constructed with the lower end of smaller diameter than the upper end, and with the back face comprising a plane, whereas the other faces are curved and tapered toward the bottom. This back plate is preferably fastened to the wall of a residence in any suitable way as by Wood screws 2. As shown in the drawings the opening in the upper end of the housing 1 is countersunk to support the plate 3, which plate is se- (Cl. 20il139) cured to the housing in any suitable way as by wood screws 4, and in this connection it may be pointed out that the housing is preferably constructed of wood or other suitable material which has a low heat absorbing quality and is of low heat conductivity.

Below the plate 3 as shown in Fig. 2, and above this plate 3 as shown in Fig. 3, there is fastened a post 5, which post 5 is preferably split at its upper end (as shown in Fig. 3) for supporting the end of a spiral strip 6 of bi-metallic thermostat metal, to the outside end of which spiral is suitably fastened a spring contact arm '7 in any suitable way, as by a rivet. It is of course understood that this bi-metallic metal spiral will coil up or uncoil, as the case may be, upon a change in temperature of the surrounding air passing through the ventilating holes 3 this by reason of the fact that the two metals of the bi-metallic strip have temperature co-efficients of expansion which are different from each other. In this connection attention is also directed to the fact that the clock shown, or other ornament to be supported by the shelf 1, is preferably provided with short legs to complete the ventilating path through the shelf. In other words, the air passing into the lower end of the shelf can escape at the top of the shelf between the legs of the clock.

On top of the plate 3 as shown in Fig. 3 is piv otally secured as by a machine screw 8, a contact supporting plate 9 which carries contact posts 10 and 11 suitably fastened thereto but insulated therefrom. These posts 10 and 11 are cross drilled and threaded and contain. contact screws 12 and 13, thus making the ends of these screws 12 and. 13 adjustable with respect to the contact blade '7. The ends of these contact screws are preferably constructed of platinum-iridium metal, a suitable platinum-iridium rivet 14 passing through the contact blade 7, this particular alloy being preferred on account of its arc resisting qualities. In order to manually change the position of the con tact supporting plate 9 in a micro-metric manner, this plate 9 is provided with a pin 15 which passes through an arcuate slot 16 in the handle plate 17, 0 pivotally supported at the point 18 and containing a handle 1'2 The center of the arcuate slot is out about a center not coincident with pivot 18 but toward one side thereof, so that movement of the plate 17 about its pivot 18 will cause the contact plate 9 to rotate about its pivot 8 at a much lower rate.

This supporting plate 3 also has a socket l9 supported below the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and above the same as shown in Fig. 3, for supporting the pilot light 20. This pilot light projects into a hole drilled throughthe shelf 1, over which hole there is preferably contained a suitable colored screen or color fitter, such as red, bulls-eye 21. This pilot light serves the double function of an indicator, it being illuminated when the furnace or other heat producing device is adjusted for high temperature, and to conduct heat to the thermostat 6 so as to compound the effect (heat producing) that the furnace or heat producing unit will have on the thermostat spiral 6.

The plate 3 also supports three insulated contact posts 22, 23 and 24 which project from the upper part thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and project downwardly as shown in Fig. 3, which posts are adapted to cooperate respectively with the three contact springs 26, 27 and 28 projecting from the bottom of the clock 25. These contact posts 22, 23 and 24 and contact springs 26, 27 and 28 comprise what may be called a quick detachable connection for connecting the snap action switch 30 operated by,the clock 25 to the thermostat contained in the housing 1 and the regulating motor 35 used for controlling the furnace or other heating device. This regulating motor 35 may be of any suitable construction, such for instance as shown in the prior application of Oscar H. Dicke, Ser. No. 348,650, filed March 20, 1929, patented May 10, 1932, Patent Number 1,857,531.

The switch 30 contained within the clock 25 is preferably of the snap action type as convention ally shown by the compression spring 31, which holds the contact arm 30 in one or the other of its extreme positions, this contact arm 30 being pref erably operated by a twenty-four hour shaft forming part of the clock 25 through suitable means, so that when the force exerted by the clock exceeds that exerted by the spring 31, the contact 30 will be quickly moved from its one extreme to its other extreme position. Although this snap action switch 30 may be controlled by the clock 25 in any suitable manner it is preferabiy of a construction such as shown in the prior application of Allen A. Dicke, Ser. No. 442,711, filed April 8, 1930.

Referring now to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted that the regulator 35 is controlled by alternating current received from the transformer 36, one terminal of the secondary winding of which is connected by the wire 37 directly to the regulator 35, the other wire 38 of which is connected to the switch 30 through the medium of contacts 22 and 26 and the wire 39. If this snap action clock operated switch 30 also shown in Fig. 1 assumes its day position (the position in which it is shown) the circuit will continue through a wire, contacts 23-27, wire 41, thermo-responsive spiral 6, to the opening wire 42 or the closing wire 43 depending on the position of the contact blade 7 operated by the thermostatic spiral 6. In this connection it may be pointed out that only momentary closure of the circuit just traced through the opening or the closing wires 42 or 43, respectively, is required to cause the regulator 35 to be operated to that position, the regulator motor 35 automatically stopping when it has reached such position all as fully explained in my prior application above re ferred to. It will be noted that the pilot light 20 is connected between the post 5 and the wire 43, from which it appears that the pilot light 20 will be illuminated when the furnace is open, for this is the only time at which current may fiow to the wire 43 from the regulator 35, for during each operating stroke the wire 37 is shifted within the regulator 35 from one to the other of wires 42 and 43, and further it is apparent that the pilot light 20 will be short circuited by the contact blade 7 engaging the stationary contact screw 13 to initiate the regulating motor 35 to close the furnace, or the like, and in so doing will disconnect the wire 43 from the source 36. The wires 38, 42 and 43 pass through the opening 44 in the shelf 1, and in practice pass down through the wall of the house to the basement, or other compartment where the furnace and motor 35 are located.

It will be noted that the above described illumination of the pilot light 20 can occur only when the regulating motor 35 is in the position calling for an increase in the heat supply. When the switch 30 is in the night position (dotted line position in Figure 4), the current supply to the lamp 20 which flows through conductors 40 and 41 is cut off because switch member 30 is not in a conductive relation to conductor 40. Said pilot light 20 serves at least two purposes: First, it indicates to anyone within visible range that the heat regulator motor 35 is in the "open position, i. c. positioned for increasing heat supply. Secondly, the pilot light 20 provides a supplemental heat source which serves to raise the temperature of the thermoresponsive device a very slight amount, so as to cause the thermostatic switch to reduce the heat supply at an earlier time than would otherwise be the case. As soon as this occurs, the pilot light is extinguished, the supplemental heat is no longer supplied, and the thermostat is more quickly actuated to cause increase of the heat supply. The

resultant of these effects is to increase the sensitiveness of the thermostat and to regulate the temperature more closely than would otherwise be possible. Such a pilot light and the functions and operation thereof are disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 1,854,786 granted April 19, 1932 upon the application of A. A. Dicke Applicant has thus disclosed a regulating system including a thermostat camouflaged to appear as though it were a shelf for supporting suitable means such as a mantel clock, for instance, which thermostat may be used for supporting a vase or a flower pot but preferably supports a clock either of the usual construction or one which includes a twenty-four hour shaft forperature during sleeping hours, and where this clock is to be located at a point undesirable for the indication of the room temperature, such as on an outside wall, for instance, the construction as shown and described readily lends itself to the use of the clock and shelf exactly as shown except with the thermostat omitted, and with the thermostat located at another point in the dwelling. In other words, the clock together with its quick detachable contacts 26, 27 and 28 may be either used with a thermostat of the shelf type, or may be used with a plain shelf containing the contact posts 22, 23 and 24, and wired up as shown in Fig. 4 in connection with another thermostat (not shown) but constructed exactly the same as the elements 5 to 18 inclusive, illustrated in the drawing, located at another point.

Having thus shown and described one specific embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that various changes, modifications and additions may be made to adapt the invention to the particular problem encountered in practicing the same, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention or the idea of means underlying the same, except as demanded by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new is:-

1. In combination, a clock, a shelf for said clock having a vertically disposed ventilating opening passing therethrough, and a temperature responsive device mounted in the opening in said shelf.

2. In combination, a clock, a shelf for said clock having a vertically disposed ventilating opening passing therethrough, and temperature responsive circuit closing means supported in the open ing in said shelf.

3. In combination, a shelf provided with a ventilating passage, ornamental means supported by said shelf, and thermal responsive means supported in the passage of said shelf.

4. In combination, a shelf provided with a ventilating passage, ornamental means supported by said shelf, and temperature operated circuit closing means supported in the passage of said shelf.

5. In combination, a shelf provided with a ventilating passage, ornamental means supported by said shelf, temperature operated circuit closing means supported in the passage of said shelf, and a pilot light associated with said temperature operated circuit closing means and lighted when said temperature operated circuit closing means manifests low temperature.

6. In combination, a shelf provided with a ventilating passage, a clock supported on said shelf, clock operated circuit closing means on said clock, thermal responsive circuit closing means mounted in said passage and included in a circuit in series with said clock operated circuit closing means, and a quick detachable means partly on said shelf and partly on said clock for electrically connecting said two circuit closing means together when said clock is in position on said shelf.

7. In combination, a shelf provided with a ventilating passage, a clock supported on said shelf, clock operated circuit closing means on said clock, thermal responsive circuit closing means mounted in said passage and included in a circuit in series with said clock operated circuit closing means, a quick detachable means partly on said shelf and partly on said clock for electrically connecting said two circuit closing means together when said clock is in position on said shelf, and a pilot light in said shelf and electrically connected with said thermal responsive circuit closing means.

8. In combination, a hollow shelf suitably supported from a wall, thermo-responsive means mounted within said shelf, a clock on said shelf having acontact operated by the mechanism of said clock, and a heat controlling circuit including said contact and said thermo-responsive means in series.

OSCAR H. DICKE. 

